Some Thoughts on Starting a Blogging Career.

Many of today’s internet users who hang around the net long enough will eventually come to blogging. It’s the thing to do nowadays. Besides, who doesn’t want to at least try it?

The internet is filled with wonderful sites that are truly enjoyable to visit and having one of them is something to be happy about.

Blogging is an expressive art, an opportunity to be yourself and express your viewpoint and outlook on whatever subject you decide you want to write about.

This is what many find so attractive about the profession in the first place.

Did you catch that?

I called it a profession, because that’s exactly what it is. There have been all sorts of articles on blogs and the various styles and types, but for me, there are only two types of blogs. Hobby blogs and business blogs.

Hobby blogs are those that afford the most freedom of all. These are anything you want them to be, post when you feel like it types. It’s a hobby, so there is no penalty or real downside to it. If you don’t post again until next week or next month, so what?

Everything else is business, whether you are trying to make money, raise awareness for a good cause or report the news, it’s business and you’d better approach it in just that manner.

It’s this fundamental mindset that you must have as a blogger if you plan to reach any level of success. If you don’t take this seriously, how can you expect anyone else to see you in a serious light?

I’ve learned a lot about blogging and long ago came to realize what a great opportunity this is for a free education in technology and/or whatever passion you have that can be digitized. But you must be serious and disciplined.

When you launch a blog, you launch an online business and it’s up to you where it goes from there.

There are those who think that once you’ve launched and published a few articles things are well underway. While a good accomplishment, that’s really when the fun begins.

Starting an online business can be a really exciting venture, one that will bring a new outlook on how things are done on the internet. One that can possibly free you from the 9 to 5 and that nagging boss that goes along with it.

You’ll not get there overnight, like most businesses, it will have to be grown and operated in a certain way.

I’ve written about this before but it’s true, many new bloggers will become disenchanted with the effort during the early months and fold their tents, deciding that it’s not worth the effort. The time vs reward factor will get into your mind and challenge you. This is when you’ll have to decide if this is for you or not.

During the early teeth-cutting days of your blogging life you’ll not see much reward, that’s just how it is. Thinking that if you build it, they will come is unlikely to bear much fruit early on. Yes you’ve built it, but you have to build some roads that lead back to it as well and this takes time.

Everything associated with blogging is strategy related. Now don’t confuse this for some type of scheme, for to do so, you would have surely missed the point. Strategy is the act of performing a certain morally correct task to gain a certain result. For scheming, take out the morals.

I saw something recently on Twitter, maybe on Risley’s feed, that said that the number of pro bloggers is increasing, or words to that effect. This is absolutely good news as it means the pro blogger has begun to really get some traction in this industry. Naturally, I”m excited about that.

I wrote this post just to share some of my thoughts on starting a blog. There is a need to set the record straight and let those who are contemplating entering the field know what they are in for.

There is a misconception among new bloggers, thinking that this is a matter of simple desktop publishing. It goes far, far beyond that.

Here’s a little “Be Prepared” list to help you develop the right mindset.

Be Prepared to

• Dedicate yourself to a new career that will require a good deal of your time
• Be passionate about your chosen subject or niche
• Show that inner creativity
• Set aside a minimum number of hours to regularly work on this endeavor
• Adopt or develop a plan that includes measurable goals to keep you on point
• Perform a lot of research so that you have your facts correct
• Take the necessary actions required to gain a measure of momentum
• Face disappointment when you read your first blog traffic report
• Produce original content that will interests people beyond your family
• Post that content to your blog on a regular schedule without fail
• Learn all sorts of new skills, tools and technologies
• Hire a tech for things that are beyond your level of expertise
• Train yourself how to focus and avoid information overload
• Have your commitment challenged by the day-to-day events of blogging
• Feel a level of gratification when you begin to find your voice
• Brand yourself or your company in a positive way so people become familiar
• Be challenged on many of your viewpoints
• Back up your viewpoints by taking a stand
• Continually train and expand your blogging skill set

So you think you’re ready for blogging?

The list above can easily be many times the size of this one, but these bullet points will give you a good idea of what you can expect.

Like the image above, there will be many hurdles to clear.

Don’t be fooled into thinking that this will be easy. But if you have your mind made-up that this is what you intend to do, and are willing to make the necessary adjustments to your lifestyle to accomplish the task and be all that you can be as a blogger, by all means come join the ranks of the future pros.

Blogging has many benefits, once you understand what it takes to be successful. Treat this like a business and be very serious about it. Have fun, be yourself and be helpful to others. The rewards of blogging are well worth the effort when you know what is expected of you.

Happy blogging!

I blog about blogging and the online life. You can follow me on   and   for a glimpse of what it’s all about.